Cylindrical Container For Dispensing Wet, Moist Or Dry Wipes

ABSTRACT

This cylindrical container for dispensing wet, moist or dry wipes will provide a convenient and easy-to-use alternative to conventional dry bathroom tissue. As the use of pre-moistened tissue is becoming more prevalent, this product will introduce a self-contained mechanism capable of dispensing wet or moist wipes. There is no need to install additional hardware in the bathroom, as this product works with typical toilet paper dispensers. The tissues are enclosed in the container, thus allowing the material to stay moist and free from contamination. The container may also be placed in other locations in the home as well as the workplace, such as the garage, the kitchen, the nursery, or communal areas at work, thus providing a simple and effective method for cleaning and disinfecting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/633,025 filed 2012 Feb. 3 by the present inventors.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This application is directed to a dispenser for wet, moist or dry wipes in a multitude of arenas such as use in a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, vehicle, garage and more.

2. Prior Art

Grocery stores, supermarkets and drugstores commonly supply consumers with wipes for hygienic use. Originally these wipes for hygienic use were only offered in a dry state. Presently pre-moistened wipes are available on the market and are packaged in a stacked array, usually within a rectangular shaped container not suitable for convenient dispensing in a bathroom setting. Consumers are starting to appreciate the use of pre-moistened or wet wipes in the bathroom setting especially since the process involves handling human waste. The moist/wet wipes offer protection through limited contact of the hand with human waste, as well as through a disinfecting element. To date, no inventions have been specifically designed to house said wipes without causing redundancies; they have been available merely to work in conjunction with existing dry toilet paper. Our container minimizes waste by acting as an all in one substantially sealable plastic container. Initially this container for dispensing wipes was designed specifically with moist bathroom wipes in mind, created to eliminate the need for regular dry toilet paper. This easy to open case will house the moist or wet wipes and may conveniently be installed on most existing toilet paper holders. Over time, as our container has been perfected, we've determined there are many additional uses for this container/device. Should one choose, it can be used to dispense dry toilet paper keeping the toilet paper clean as it is enclosed. It can be used for wet or moist wipes not only in the bathroom on the toilet paper holder, but in many other applications. It can be used in a nursery and attached to a changing table, or in a garage to conveniently wipe hands after working. There are various kinds of dispensers intended to house pre-moistened or wet wipes exclusively, however, these containers work in conjunction with existing toilet tissue paper. Our container can remain free standing or attached to a standard toilet paper holder.

Furthermore, since existing wet or pre-moistened tissues are packaged in a separate container, the tissues may be inappropriately positioned for ease of use. Thus, what is needed is a container that overcomes the above described problems. Examples of pre-moistened toilet paper dispensers proposed in the art can be found in the U.S. patents to Perlman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,664; Cordis, U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,353; Muralidhara, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,521; Dearwester, U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,008; Dearwester, U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,920; Steinhardt, U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,882; Gottselig, U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,836; Lake, U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,153; Adelakun, U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,707; Cain, U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,292; Lindsay, U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,799; Haering, U.S. Pat. No. 7,395,986. While various dispensers proposed in the related art all contemplate dispensing pre-moistened toilet paper, they fail to fully address the needs of conveniently and effectively dispensing pre-moistened tissue in a bathroom setting. Specifically, the various devices proposed in the art fail to provide for easy and efficient removal of the housing from the holder in order to place a new roll of pre-moistened tissue in the housing chamber when an existing roll has been depleted. The housing of various devices proposed in the art, as described above, are all difficult to remove from the holder.

In view of the shortcomings in the related art, there remains an urgent need for a convenient and effective device for containing and dispensing pre-moistened wipes from a roll, wherein the device is specifically adapted for mounting to an existing toilet paper roll holder fixture in a bathroom.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, this container which is substantially sealable houses and protects wipes from outside elements including but not limited to pets, children and germs. Once dispensed the wipes can optimally be used for their intended use. The container is easy to use and allows for simple changing of material once replacing is required. It can also be outfitted to replace common household items such as toilet paper on a toilet paper holder. For example, this container could be used to house dry toilet paper, pre-moistened or wet toilet paper on most existing toilet paper holders.

DRAWINGS Figures

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the preferred embodiment, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the container in the open refillable position

FIG. 2 is a different perspective view showing the container in the open refillable position

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the container in the closed position

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the lid

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing container in the closed position with the lid removed

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the female hemisphere of the container

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the male hemisphere of the container

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the container in an alternate embodiment

DRAWINGS Reference Numerals

-   -   10—Female end wall     -   12—Male end wall     -   14—Hole/void in female end wall     -   16—Hollow erect male tubular core     -   18—Female cylindrical side wall     -   20—Male cylindrical side wall     -   22—Hollowed section on female cylindrical side wall     -   24—Hinge for male hemisphere and female hemisphere     -   26—Front open access on female cylindrical side wall     -   28—Slot     -   30—Tab     -   32—Lid     -   34—Groove on underside of lid     -   36—Curved tip of lid     -   38—Tooth like barrier     -   40—Recessed outline to receive groove from underside of lid     -   42—Weight     -   44—Lead in notch     -   46—Gripping points     -   48—Hole     -   50—Bottom lip     -   52—Groove on inside female end wall     -   54—Groove on inside male end wall     -   56—Hinge for lid     -   100—Cylindrical Container     -   200—Female Hemisphere     -   300—Male Hemisphere     -   400—Alternate embodiment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1-7—First Embodiment

The present embodiment will now be described in detail as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiment. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present embodiment may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. The features and advantages of the present embodiment may be better understood with reference to the drawings and discussions that follow.

One embodiment of a cylindrical container for dispensing wet, moist or dry wipes 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. The container 100 has a female hemisphere 200 and a male hemisphere 300 (better observed in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) that come together to form a union. The present embodiment comprises of a first end wall 10, an opposite end wall 12, and two generally cylindrical side walls 18, 20 extending between the opposite end walls 10,12. The first end wall 10, defined as the female side has a round opening 14 in the center to receive the hollow erect male tubular core 16 from the opposite end wall 12. The inner face of the female end wall 10 is lined with a groove 52 to interlock with the male cylindrical side wall 20. Alternatively, the inner male end wall 12 is lined with a groove 54 to provide a cohesive interlock with the female cylindrical side wall 18 when closed. One embodiment of the container 100 has a curved lid 32 that can be opened and closed repeatedly. Said lid is connected by a means, currently a hinge 56, but can be attached numerous other ways to the female hemisphere 200 of the container 100. This closed position provides the wipes a protective chamber to remain moist and prevent premature drying if needed and to minimize germs from landing on them. The protective chamber also minimizes outside factors such as pets or children from tampering with them. In a preferred embodiment, the underside of the female cylindrical side wall 18 shall have a slightly hollowed out section 22 to remove excess weight from the container 100. The female cylindrical side wall 18 is attached to the male cylindrical side wall 20 by means of a hinge 24. Opposite the hinge 24 is a large front access opening 26 to facilitate access to the wipes enabling dispensing of them outwardly through the front access opening 26. In a preferred embodiment, the outer side of the female cylindrical side wall 18 contains two slots 28 specifically designed to attach a substantially sealing lid 32 with two interlocking corresponding tabs 30 forming the hinge 56. Any number of hinge mechanisms known can be used in lieu of the two slots 28 and tabs 30. The inner walls of the substantially sealing lid 32 is traced with a groove 34 aligned for a snap fit. The tip 36 of the substantially sealing lid 32 is slightly curved outward simulating a handle to permit for simple lifting of the lid 32 allowing access to the wipes.

Centrally located on the male end wall 12 is a hollow erect tubular core 16, similar to that of a conventional toilet paper core. The wet, moist or dry tissue/wipe is rotatably supported on the erect tubular core 16. The male cylindrical side wall 20 features a strip of added weight 42 off-center along side the hinge 24. While the wipes are permitted to rotate about the erect tubular core 16, the container 100 remains relatively stationary because of the weight 42 distribution and gravity. Opposite the hinge 24 is bottom lip 50 that comprises of a lead in notch 44, a gripping point 46, and a hole 48; that aligns with the female front access opening 26. The bottom lip 50 on the male cylindrical side 20 has a lead in notch 44 for the wipes to naturally flow through, gripping points 46, and hole 48. This lead in notch 44 allows the wipes to controllably move through the gripping points 46 and catch in the hole 48 so one may apply a slight tug to tear the wipes at perforated segments. The individual wipe is separated from the roll as the next adjacent sheet remains in position at the hole 48 for subsequent dispensing out through the access opening 26. The outer wall of the male cylindrical side 20 has a slightly recessed outline 40 for the substantially sealing lid 32 to snap close. It is not the intent of the present embodiment to limit the manufacture and use of the type of wipe used in this container.

The current embodiment of the cylindrical container 100 will be molded out of plastic comprising of two pieces; the large section comprising of the male hemisphere 300 and female hemisphere 200 will be joined to the lid 32 by means of a hinge 56.

While this container has been shown and described in accordance with a practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit of the container and, therefore, the scope of the container should not be limited except as defined within the following claims as interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 8—Alternate Embodiment

In an alternate embodiment the lid 32 may be eliminated and the front access opening 26 can be lined with rubberized teeth 38 positioned to essentially offer a barrier from outside elements.

Operation

The manner of using the container for wet, moist or dry tissue/wipes is similar to that of conventional toilet paper dispensers presently used. Namely, to replace a roll of toilet paper one first removes the rolling mechanism that holds the toilet tissue roll. Next, one would insert the rolling mechanism into the toilet roll's hollow core. In this case, one would insert this rolling mechanism into the male tubular core 16. However, prior to doing this, one would open the container 100 by first lifting the lid 32 and apply a slight force against the front access opening 26 and bottom lip 50 in a repelling manner to bring it to open position as shown in FIG. 1, 2. Once the container 100 is in open position one can insert/slide the wipes onto the male tubular core 16. One must then close the container 100 by simply applying pressure to the two outer cylindrical side walls 18, 20 folding them back into place so the interlocking grooves 52, 54 of the end walls 10, 12 connect. To prepare the wipe for proper function, one must grip a loose point of the wipe and pull through the front access opening 26. One pulls the wipe up or out in a direction generally opposite to that in which the gripping points 46 are located. When looking to separate the wipe at a perforated point, one would then pull down through the lead in notch 44 towards the gripping points 46 and into the hole 48 applying some force to break the wipe, thus freeing the adjacent wipe which remains in place to be used for subsequent dispensing. One can then close the lid 32 by bringing it down and snapping it into place. Then, consistent with replacement of conventional toilet paper continue by inserting the rolling mechanism through the hollow erect male tubular core 16 and put back into place. The correct way to place the container onto the rolling mechanism and back into the toilet paper holder is with the female cylindrical side 18 to remain in a superior position while the male cylindrical side 20 with the added weight 42 is to remain as the bottom portion. Once this is done the container 100 is ready to be used. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for dispensing wet, moist or dry tissue/wipes from a roll comprising: a housing chamber substantially cylindrical in nature of sufficient size to accommodate use on most existing toilet paper holders, when closed said housing chamber can support said roll of tissue/wipes, said roll of tissue/wipes can rotate within said cylindrical housing chamber and can be pulled through a front access opening to allow passage of said tissue/wipes therethrough; said tissue/wipes to remain in a substantially airtight housing chamber preventing premature drying and protecting said wipes from outside elements; said front access opening to limit moisture evaporation from said wet or moist tissues/wipes and to minimize germs by means of a barrier; said container can be opened to facilitate replacement of said wipes by means of a hinge separating a male and female side cylindrical side walls respectively; said container is rotatably opened by means of holding said end walls or said side cylindrical walls and turning in opposing fashion.
 2. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical housing container is of a non-porous material substantially impermeable to moisture.
 3. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said wipes are supported in said cylindrical housing chamber, said wipes may be donned on a protected male erect tubular core protruding from an end wall permitting ease of rotation when in use.
 4. The container as recited in claim 1 further comprising of a means for limiting rotation of housing chamber and can be found on the cylindrical side wall or end walls allowing the container to naturally gravitate towards a predetermined state due to weight balancing leaving accessibility to front dispensing/access opening easily available for removal of said tissue/wipes.
 5. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein front access opening includes a barrier by means of a lid or in the form of a flexible opening. 